(History Channel, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP)

Forget Disney's epic monstrosity in the making – gimme a solid historical documentary on the Alamo and I'll be happy as a clam. Does it surprise you that the History Channel has put together just such a release, with the oh-so-appropriate title The Alamo? The 2-disc set chronicles multiple aspects of the event through four documentaries – "Remember the Alamo," "The Real West: The Battle of the Alamo," "The Real West: The Texas Rangers," and "Biography: Davy Crockett: American Frontier Legend." Viva la documentary!

(Home Vision, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP)

The BBC's adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland is about as sparse a production as you can imagine – no animal costumes, minimal make-up, and conservative design – and yet it's one of the most memorable. Maybe that's because the sparseness allows the performances to really shine through, and when you have a cast that includes Sir John Gielgud, Peter Cook, Sir Michael Redgrave, and Peter Sellers, that's a most excellent thing. The DVD contains an audio commentary with director Jonathan Miller, a behind-the-scenes still gallery, Cecil Hepworth's 1903 film of Alice in Wonderland, an essay, and music by Ravi Shankar. How 60's is that?

(Showtime, Rated R, DVD-$26.99 SRP)

When I heard that writer/comedian (and Mr. Show vet) Bob Odenkirk had directed a film, I expected it to be a comedy. Based on a stage play of the same name, Melvin Goes to Dinner does have its comedic moments, but they're firmly seated within a startlingly intense character piece about shared dinner amongst a group of acquaintances, during which a multitude of revelations come to the fore as the night wears on. The topics covered run the gamut from sex and religion to dating and ghosts, but its all related in a beautifully subtle fashion that was, frankly, a surprise. Kudos to Odenkirk, and a hearty recommendation that you check it out. The DVD contains two audio commentaries (a cast commentary and a production commentary, both of which share Odenkirk and writer/actor Michael Blieden), "The Frank International Film Festival" featurette, scenes from the original stage play, and the complete shooting script in PDF format (a welcome move, and hopefully a trend that will be followed).

(Warner Bros, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP)

How can you not love a modern re-imagining of a classic fairy tale when said re-imagining is smart enough to stock its cast with Christina Applegate, Martin Short, Andrea Martin, and Billy Connolly? To deny its appeal is madness, I say! The fairy tale being tackled is "The Frog Prince," which has been renamed Prince Charming and follows the quest of the enchanted prince (Sean Maguire) and his sidekick (Short) – both of whom are turned into frogs by the spell – as they seek out the kiss that will end their curse. Said journey lasts over 500 years, at the end of which they happen to catch a plane from England to New York, where the spell is finally broken… But it doesn't end there. If you're wondering where the story goes, check it out – it's a fun flick.

(Pathfinder, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP)

Hollywood just doesn't know how to make exploitation films like it used to – a conclusion you'll probably share if you check out the documentary Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies. A genre once dominated by the likes of Roger Corman and Samuel Arkoff, the exploitation film has all but disappeared (I blame the advent of video), but the glory days of its reign over teens and adults alike is presented in a most engaging fashion via tons of clips and interviews with people like Corman, Peter Bogdanovich, Dick Miller, and Forrest Ackerman. The DVD contains an audio commentary with director Ray Greene and co-producer Wade Major, behind-the-scenes footage, the nuclear propaganda short "The Atom and Eve," a radio interview with Greene, unreleased soundtrack music, an art gallery, and cast and crew bios. Good stuff!

(Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP)

With American Wedding, one can only hope that the American Pie series has made its exit from the stage. Don't get me wrong – I've enjoyed the series, and Wedding is a decent flick, but 3 is enough. The only thing that might be worth exploring is a Big Chill-esque take on the characters in about 15 years, where we see the courses their lives have taken. As with the previous films, 50 different versions of American Wedding are on shelves – just stick to the widescreen unrated version and you'll be fine. Bonus materials include deleted scenes, audio commentaries, featurettes, and a gag reel.

(Warner Bros, Not Rated, DVD-$99.98 SRP)

I think the best season of Babylon 5 was its 3^rd. The characters were well-established, the revelations about the machinations of the Shadows came fast and furious, and there was a palpable tension being steadily built. The fourth season was disappointing because it tried to accomplish too much. The abrupt end of the Shadow War, Garibaldi and the Mars situation, the drive to reclaim Earth from President Clark's clutches, the advancement of the rogue telepath subplot (which would drag down the first half of Season 5), and the events within the Centauri government… It was all just too much! It's understandable when one considers that Straczynski didn't know if the show was coming back for another season, and therefore sought to wrap everything up – but it's still a lot to deal with, and a lot of the emotional impact of certain events is diminished because there's little time to dwell. Those quibbles are minor in the face of such a strong cast and powerful characters, and that's really what Babylon 5 came down to for me. The Season 4 set contains an introduction from JMS, two commentaries with JMS (one including director Mike Vejar) a cast commentary (with Bruce Boxleitner, Jerry Doyle, Peter Jurasik and Patricia Tallman), "Celestial Sounds" featurette about series composer Christopher Franke and the making of the series music, an original suite composed specifically for the DVD, "The Universe of Babylon 5: Personnel Files," Data Files, and a gag reel.

(Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$49.95 SRP each)

Despite the (much-appreciated) lightning fast speed with which they've released the Star Trek series, Paramount has taken what seems like a dog's age to release the second seasons of Cheers and Frasier since their premiere sets debuted in May of last year. Finally, the second season of both shows is here. Frasier hit the ground running right from its very first episode, but it took until its sophomore year for Cheers to really hit its stride and fully establish the dynamic within the bar (one of the key steps was making John Ratzenberger's Cliff a regular). Bonus materials are still skimpy, with only a few puff featurettes on both sets and a single commentary on Frasier (although I really got a kick out of the gag reel included on the Cheers set). Why is it that drama and science fiction programs get tons of extras but classic comedies get the short end of the stick? Still, it's great to have both of these shows in remastered, uncut form… If Paramount increases the release schedule and beefs up the bonus materials, I'll be absolutely giddy.

(Showtime, Not Rated, DVD-$49.95 SRP)

Give it time, and every facet of life – even the most surreal – will get at least a 10 episode commitment as a reality TV show. When I heard about the premise of Showtime's Family Business, I thought, "We've finally gone to plaid." Adam Glasser is a single father who's looking for love, and he also runs a business with the aid of his mother and cousin Stevie. Sounds normal enough, right? Okay, how about if I told you that the business is the adult video industry and Adam Glasser is better known as "Seymore Butts?" As you would expect, there's plenty of "on the job" nudity to be found in the 10 episodes comprising the first season, but there's also a heart and humor to Adam and his interactions with his family – and, surprisingly, even at work. The 3-disc Complete First Season features audio commentary on one of the episodes, additional interviews, deleted scenes, and a Season 2 preview.

(Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP)

I still can't watch Michael Chiklis without thinking of his roly-poly and rumpled role on The Commish, but despite that baggage, The Shield has provided an excellent vehicle for Chiklis to bring a far deeper character to the small screen. In season 2, Chiklis's Det. Vic Mackey is in free fall – his personal life is in shambles and a new threat has entered the picture. The 4-disc Season 2 set features audio commentary on select episodes, deleted scenes, 5 behind-the-scenes featurettes, and a Season 3 preview.

(Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$16.95 SRP)

Everytime a new Spongebob Squarepants volume gets released, I can't help but think, "So when are we going to get a Season 2 set?" Even though that question hangs in the air, it's kind of hard to not pick up the latest single-disc collection of adventures… That spunky little sponge is addictive… And I hate spunk. The Seascape Capers features 10 episodes (including my favorite, the robot episode "Krab Borg") plus the storyboard to "Grandma's Kisses."

(Columbia/Tristar, Rated R, DVD-$28.95 SRP)

Okay, I watched Underworld, and I'm still at a loss to understand how it got a "Thumbs Up" from Richard Roeper. Other than the fact that Roeper seems to have the cinematic taste of a hyperactive 13 year-old boy. The short way of describing the basic premise is to take Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet and replace the Montagues and the Capulets with Vampires and Werewolves (herein referred to as "Lycans"). A female vampire (Kate Beckinsdale) and a newly-turned male Lycan (Scott Speedman) fall in love and, if you listened to what I just said, you know exactly what happens. Just imagine it being boring and over-art directed. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary with director Len Wiseman and writer Danny McBride, a technical commentary, featurettes, a music video, a storyboard comparison, TV spots, and trailers.

(Columbia/Tristar, Rated PG, DVD-$19.95 SRP)

Yeah, okay, so Annie isn't one of the greatest musicals ever made. Not even close, really. But regardless, it's one that I remember seeing all the time when I was a kid, which means it's permanently lodged in the pop culture portion of my brain. It's nice that Columbia/Tristar decided to do an Anniversary Edition DVD release of the film  – it's criminal, however, that they decided to butcher it by putting it out Pan & Scan. Come on, people! To add insult to injury, the bonus featurette featuring a grown-up Aileen Quinn (Annie) reminiscing about her experiences is anamorphic and features widescreen clips from the film. What the hell??? I certainly hope they get their act together and put this out properly.

(Miramax, Rated R, DVD-$29.99 SRP)

Buffalo Soldiers died a quick death at the box office. Its portrayal of a US soldier (Joaquin Phoenix) who takes financial advantage of the end of the Cold War like a latter-day Bilko was deemed to be in poor taste during our recent Iraq war. Further out from the conflict, it can be viewed for what is – a bitingly satiric black comedy that's more on target than most people would like to acknowledge. The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary with director Gregor Jordan, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and "Anatomy of a Scene."

(HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP)

If people thought Seinfeld was a brutally pessimistic show, it ain't got nothin' on co-creator Larry David's follow-up effort, Curb Your Enthusiasm. This time David is the star, and the show is structured like a voyeuristic peek into David's "real life" (thankfully, it's all an act). David is a bitter, caustic, and incredibly funny force of nature as he barrels through his relationship with his wife (perfectly played by Cheryl Hines), his friends (manager Jeff, played by producer Jeff Garlin, and Richard Lewis as himself), and various and sundry encounters both personal and professional. The 10 inaugural episodes are collected within the 2-disc Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Complete First Season. Right from the start, the show is firing on all cylinders. Bonus materials include the original HBO special which led to the series, a 30-minute interview with David conducted by Bob Costas, and audio commentary (with David, Garlin, Hines, and producer Robert Weide) on the first episode.

(New Line, Rated R, DVD-$29.95 SRP)

No one in their right mind would call Freddy Vs Jason a good flick. However, it is a fun flick… there is a difference. The long-awaited tussle between horror heavyweights Freddy and Jason had schlock written all over it right from the get-go, but that's all everyone expected and, dare I say, hoped for. And it delivers all the gory goods for those willing to suspend any desire for depth. The 2-disc special edition contains an audio commentary (with director Ronny Yu, Robert Englund, and Ken Kirzinger), deleted/alternate scenes with optional commentary, behind-the-scenes featurettes, storyboards, galleries, a music video, TV spots, and the theatrical trailer.

(MGM/UA, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP)

When I interviewed Dave Foley a few years back, he professed to share a passion with the character he was playing at the time, Dave Nelson on Newsradio . They both were fans of the 60's sitcom Green Acres. If you only have dim memories of the theme song ("Goodbye city life!") or of a pig named Arnold, then you should pick up a copy of Green Acres: The Complete First Season and discover just was a surreal, groundbreaking, and completely underappreciated sitcom it was. The DVD has no special features, but the episodes alone are worth it.

(Universal, Rated PG-13, DVD-$26.98 SRP)

While not up to the same laughter quotient as Austin Powers, there's something inherently classier about Rowan Atkinson's spy spoof Johnny English. Originally created for a series of credit card adverts, the character of Johnny English has been expanded for the film, as we find out that English is one of the worst agents Britain's intelligence agency has. But after an accident wipes out their entire roster, English is pressed into service in order to find the stolen Crown Jewels and protect the mother country. Like Clouseau before him, he bumbles his way towards success – and therein lies the fun. The anamorphic DVD contains a making-of, deleted scenes, and character profiles.

(Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$79.98 SRP)

I eagerly await the DVD release of [My Mother the Car], which will prove my theory that every TV show will eventually get a DVD release. Until then, I bide my time by watching the complete first season of Lost in Space. The 29 episodes comprising the freshman adventures of the space family Robinson are presented in their original black & white, and bonus features include both the original pilot and the original network sales presentation. Wunderbar, Will Robinson!

(MGM/UA, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP)

As a child of the very earliest days of Nick-at-Night, I have episodes of Mister Ed seared into my memory. Kind of sad, but true. And you know what? I laughed. There's something dumbly endearing about the travails of Wilbur Post and his talking horse… It's like a live action version of Warners singing frog cartoon "One Froggy Evening." Instead of seasonal sets, we get The Best of Mister Ed: Volume 1, containing 21 episodes from across the first 3 seasons (including one guest-starring a young Clint Eastwood).

(Columbia/Tristar, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP)

For some reason, I seem to be in the minority in my absolute hatred for the rather insipid MTV Spider-Man animated series. I find the visuals to be an eyesore, but it's the horrid scripts that truly make me sick. But still – there are those of you other there that like hit. For you, the entire 13 episode first season is available in an anamorphic 2-disc set   featuring commentaries, test footage, an outtake reel, and featurettes.

(Columbia/Tristar, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP)

It's interesting how many successful TV comedies started out as mid-season replacements. One such series was Barney Miller, whose 13 episode first season run has been remastered and released on DVD. Det. Barney Miller (Hal Linden) was the head of detectives at New York's 12^th Precinct, a station populated by the same eccentrics and weirdos that would eventually migrate to Night Court. The dialogue was sharp, and the situations were incredibly funny without sacrificing realism. Give it a spin…

(MGM/UA, Not Rated, DVD-$79.95 SRP)

I've never been a terribly big fan of post-apocalyptic fiction… For one thing, it's usually depressing as hell. Secondly, it often is repetitive of other post-apocalyptic fiction. Jeremiah tells of a future after a virus has wiped out the entire adult population, leaving only their ill-experienced children. Society collapses, and the children, now adults, must attempt to forge a future of their own. Our two principals are Jeremiah and Kurdy (Luke Perry and Malcolm-Jamal Warner), friends who must navigate this bleak landscape 15 years after the "Big Death" claimed the adults. Think of it as a post-modern Lord of the Flies. Thankfully, it's not as bleak as I'd feared, and showrunner J. Michael Straczynski manages to produce scripts that almost make me forget the atrocities masquerading as Babylon 5 follow-ups that he's cranked out since that much-missed show ended. The 6-disc Jeremiah: The Complete First Season  contains audio commentary from Perry and Warner, deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes featurette, production sketches, and a photo gallery.

(Paramount, Rated R, DVD-$29.95 SRP)

When a controversial rap single is released by her ailing father's record company, clueless socialite Marci Field (Lisa Kudrow) decides to step in and try to handle the situation as well as the artist behind the single, rapper Dr. S (Damon Wayans). Not only does Marci have to tackle hostile reports and an opportunistic senator (Christine Baranski), but there's a healthy culture clash between her and Dr. S that provides much of the comedic grist. Marci X  got  quite a few laughs out of me, and that's good enough.

(Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$27.95 SRP)

Okay, I'll say it right off the bat – I don't like Ashton Kutcher. There's just something about him that grates on me. Don't ask me to explain it. I do, however, like his spiritual successor to Candid Camera, Punk'd. Maybe it's because Kutcher uses his platform to pull often emotionally brutal pranks on fellow celebrities. There's just something about that which delights me to no end – especially his prank on Justin Timberlake, in which the Punk'd team convinces the pop star that his assets have been seized by the government to pay a hefty tax bill. Punk'd: The Complete First Season collects all 8 first season episodes across 2-discs, along with deleted scenes and audio commentaries with Kutcher and the Punk'd crew.

(Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$19.95 SRP)

Watching Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie on The Simple Life, one wonders how two people with a combined IQ of 15 can manage to make it in the outside world. Of course, the answers is scads of cash. Transplanting these two spoiled twenty-somethings into a rural family could have been an interesting learning experience, but with these two helplessly clueless twits, the only possibility is an amusing train wreck that winds up being profoundly sad at the same time.

(Columbia/Tristar, Rated G, DVD-$26.96 SRP)

Who knew a documentary about 8 teenagers and a spelling bee would be so damn compelling? Spellbound  certainly is, believe it or not. The DVD contains bonus footage, an audio commentary, "Where are they now?" updates, and trailers. 

(Disney, Rated G, DVD-$29.99 SRP)

Of all the "classic" (pre-1968) Disney films, Alice in Wonderland is the most underappreciated – unjustly so. Granted, by its very nature, the story is episodic with little driving force, but taken at face value, it's still a beautiful piece of work in its design, music (a whopping 14 tunes, the most of any Disney film), and animation. Although previously available on a rather bare-bones DVD, the 20-disc Alice in Wonderland: Masterpiece Edition  goes a long way towards righting those wrongs. The picture and sound have been completely remastered, and there are quite a few bonus features – including rare song demos, a recreated version of a discarded Cheshire Cat song, the theatrical trailers, and Walt's original introductions from the 1954 and 1964 airings of the film on the Disney TV show. What's most fascinating are the live action materials from the 50's – the One Hour in Wonderland TV special (featuring Walt and Edgar Bergen) that promoted the film's upcoming release, and a live performance of the film's music (including Alice's voice, Kathryn Beaumont, and Sterling Holloway) on The Fred Waring Show. My one complaint is that there is no commentary track. Considering how difficult the development was on this film, a peek behind the scenes from John Canemaker, Leonard Maltin, or Michael Barrier would have been nice.

(New Video, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP)

An estimated 20,000 American lost their fathers in Vietnam. Filmmaker Tracy Droz Tragos decided to find out about hers by tracking down friends, relatives, roommates – any one she could possibly find who knew him. Be Good, Smile Pretty documents this exploration, during which she makes discoveries both heartbreaking and shocking, but the totality of which begin to form for her a portrait of a man she never got a chance to know. The DVD contains extended interviews, a filmmaker statement, a resource guide, and photo gallery.

(Paramount, Rated R, DVD-$14.99 SRP)

Best Defense has always seemed like the "lost" Eddie Murphy film (unlike The Golden Child, which one hopes could be lost). Sadly, the teaming up of Murphy and Dudley Moore – who never actually share a scene together – is more awkward than entertaining. And when I say awkward, I mean awful. The concept – Moore is a weapons designer who uncovers a defect in his company's latest tank concept, which is to be tested by Murphy, and he desperately tries to correct the error before it's too late – is a good one. The execution is not so much.

(Paramount, Rated PG, DVD-$14.99 SRP each)

Greg Kinnear may not be Jimmy Stewart, but he is a likeable everyman type of performer – a skill evident in two catalogue titles hitting DVD, one good and one not so much. The "not so much" is the romantic comedy A Smile Like Yours, where Kinnear finds himself leery about fatherhood while trying to conceive a child with his rather insistent wife (Lauren Holly). Far better is Dear God, where con artist Tom Turner (Kinnear) is given the choice between work or prison. Opting for work, the judge assigns him to the Post Office "Dead Letter" Office. Seeing all the unanswered letters addressed to "God," he hits upon a new scheme whose outcome is far from what he predicted. The real gems, though, are the supporting cast, including Tim Conway and Laurie Metcalf. Bypass the former and check out the latter.

(Columbia/Tristar, Not Rated, DVD-$49.95 SRP)

It only lasted a single season, but the animated adaptation of Scott Adams' comic strip Dilbert seemed to gain a significant afterlife via endless repeats on Comedy Central. It must have been that fanbase, couple with the strip's, that managed to get a DVD release. Dilbert: The Complete Series collects all 30 episodes of office-bound delight across 4 discs, including a "making-of" featurette, 4 clip compilations hosted by Adams, and trailers.

(History Channel, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP)

Just in time for the 5^th season of The Sopranos, A&E releases a box set containing their excellent documentaries on the real life mob bosses of legend, The Godfathers Collection. The 2-disc set contains four episodes of Biography (Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, and the Genovese family), as well as a brand new feature-length documentary.

(History Channel, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP)

I love the History Channel's Mail Call. It's probably because R. Lee Ermey is such a great host, and the format – answering questions about military history, procedures and weapons – is just so darn engrossing for a history buff like me. The Best of Season 2 sports seven episodes packed with entertainingly informational goodness.

(Columbia/Tristar, Rated PG, $28.95 SRP)

If you were to combine Forrest Gump with Remember the Titans, you'd probably crank out Radio – a smarmy tale of a mentally challenged man (fittingly portrayed by Cuba Gooding, Jr.) who becomes a football coach. That pretty much sums it up. Thank you again, Revolution Studios.

(Columbia/Tristar, Rated R, DVD-$26.96 SRP)

In The Secret Lives of Dentists, Dr. Dave Hurst (Campbell Scott) has it all – a beautiful wife (Hope Davis), beautiful kids, and a healthy dental practice that he shares with his wife. However, when he glimpses her in the arms of another man, he begins to entertain violent fantasies spurred on by a brutal alter-ego (Denis Leary). His life begins to tear apart at the seams, and it makes for a page-turner of a film (how's that for a description?). The anamorphic DVD contains an audio commentary, the Sundance Channel's [Anatomy of a Scene], deleted scenes, a gag reel, and trailers.

(Paramount, Rated PG, DVD-$19.95 SRP)

With the special edition release of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, the remastering of the films starring the original cast comes to an end. Thankfully, they come to an end with a bang, since this is by far the most satisfying of the 6 special editions. The film benefits immensely by finally getting an anamorphic transfer, and the audio commentary with director Nicholas Meyer and screenwriter Denny Martin Flinn is both enjoyable and informative (especially when discussing the film's roots in recent history). We've also got another text commentary from the Okudas, but the truly notable features come on disc 2 – over 2 hours of featurettes about the development process of the film, the production itself, the historical events that inspired Nimoy and Meyer, an incredibly touching tribute to DeForest Kelley, and much more. The only way the special edition of Generations can possibly live up to this is if Paramount is smart enough to give us the alternate cut of the film.

(A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$99.95 SRP)

Just when you think you're out, Gerry Anderson pulls you back in with YET ANOTHER show release on DVD. Don't get me wrong – Terrahawks, produced in 1983, wasn't bad Anderson… It had many of the same elements of his previous series, but it just wasn't of the same level. In 2020, NASA's Martian base is destroyed by hostile alien androids from a distant planet who are making a beeline for Earth. Wouldn't you know it, Earth decides to dispatch an elite team to take them down – the Terrahawks. All 39 episodes are collected across 5 discs, with bonus features including commentaries, photo galleries, and featurettes.

(Anchor Bay, Rated PG, DVD-$24.98 SRP)

While Brazil appeals to my intellect, Terry Gilliam's Time Bandits has always been my favorite of the two for pure emotional reasons. While most filmmakers misinterpret the "fairy tale" as a sugar-coated means of storytelling, it was Gilliam who reintroduced the original Grimm ideas to beautiful effect. The film finally gets a fully remastered anamorphic release, and while it doesn't contain the excellent audio commentary from the Criterion release, it does get a brand new 27-minute interview with Gilliam and Michael Palin, The Directors spotlight on Gilliam, and the original theatrical trailers. You even get a fold-out map of the universe, so you can plot your own heists.